I’m 28 years old. I’m getting married next year. I pay bills, work a full-time job, shop for my own groceries, and buy my own clothes. I can even balance my own checkbook now, a feat for someone whose old procedure was to write a check and pray. By all accounts, I am an adult.
Then why the FUCK am I still getting zits? These little globules of despair that make my face look as though I have an advanced case of the measles. These goddamn little puss-filled sacs that irritate the shit out of me and make me look like I should be working at McDonalds and studying for tomorrow’s algebra test (no offense to anyone in high school - I did both of these things). I hate them. It feels like everyone is staring at my face. And I get nervous when I’m having an intimate moment with the SO. I don’t want him to kiss somewhere on my face and end up with a mouthful of zit scab. They don’t cover my face, but there are always 2 or 3 of them strategically placed on my cheeks and forehead to bring on worry.
I admit, I’m bad. I pop them. But I don’t do it right off the bat. I wait to see if they’ll go away first. When they get icky and just a touch will pop them - I do it. Then they stop hurting. But I give it a chance to get the hell off of my face before I bring out the weapons of mass destruction - namely, my fingernails. But by this point, they deserve it. They’ve spent way too long on my face without paying rent. It’s time to pay up or die.
And I wash my face twice a day, I use astringent, I do everything right. I have even resorted to putting those little single use band-aid things on each individual zits overnight. Nothing seems to help. The zits go away only to be replaced by MORE zits, and I swear to God, the fucking things are mocking me. I have resisted going to the dermitologist because the medicine that he put me on back in high school made me sick. There are stronger things out there now. I was a Pro-Activ freak until it stopped working after three months. I’ve switched from using a washcloth to using single use facial scrub cloths. I’ve done everything I know of to do short of taking yet ANOTHER pill in addition to the others I take every day for various conditions, and I’m at my wit’s end. I would love to have a clear face just ONCE in my life. And the goddamn things don’t even do the decency of waiting until my period to show up. Nooooo…they check into Hotel Avabeth any time they fucking well please.
I’m declaring a war on these little fuckers. I don’t care what I need to do to get rid of them. They’ve invaded my face for way too fucking long.
Have you tried the toothpaste method? I understand putting toothpaste on them overnight is supposed to help clear them up. Or, if you’re near Canada any time soon, there’s a product that comes in little blue tins called Penaten-Creme. Good for anything that’s ever been wrong with my skin. I mostly use it for rashes, but once in a while I’ve used it for zits. Can’t remember how quick the results were though.
Have you looked at your makeup lately? Maybe you’re allergic to it.
Sadly, my skin has actually improved slightly since I started using MAC a few years ago. I can’t use anything inexpensive or else I will break out even worse. My wallet hates me, but my face loves me.
And thanks for the Canada tip - I’m headed up to Toronto in June to visit a friend. I’ll keep an eye out for the cream.
This is going to sound stupid, but are you moisturizing every time you wash your face? Not moisturizing oily or acne-prone skin makes the skin kick up the oil production, leading to more zits. I’ve noticed an improvement, even in my period break-outs, since I started moisturizing more.
Windex. As soon as you notice something beginning to sprout, spray a little on a tissue, hold it to the offending area for a few seconds, and let it dry. Zits don’t stand a chance.
(This tip came to me by way of my stepdaughter, who saw it in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and tried it because she started to feel a zit coming on just a couple days before she was standing up in a friend’s wedding. Worked perfectly for her, and I have used it a couple times since.)
CrazyCatLady, I’m afraid of moisturizer. I’m worried that it will make my face break out more. But I’ll give it a try. I’m willing to try anything.
Indygrrl, I’ve had friends who have had good success with Ortho-Tri-Cyclen, but since I have to be on a lower dose estrogen pill because of endometriosis, I can’t take it:(.
And to be honest, I’m still on the fence about Accutane. I look damn good now (and only wear makeup about twice a month now, at most), but IT. WAS. HELL. Not just for ME, either–mention the word Accutane to my poor mother and she’ll run for the hills.
Yeah, so I was a little bit of a bitch on the meds. Sue me.
I didn’t plan on using Accutane–I’d read enough to be a little chicken–but my dermatologist said it was my only way out.
That said, I have heard glowing reviews of Mario Badescu’s Pink Drying Lotion.
I continued to break out into my 30’s- it was ridiculous.
A dermatologist convinced me to try Neutrogena products- yes, the ones at the drug store.
They have worked like a charm!
I use the acne formula soap or the oil-free acne wash, then the Moisture lotion (will NOT clog pores and SPF 15!), then the On The Spot acne treatment when I get a zit.
I hardly ever break out anymore, and by that I mean maybe once a month or so! And it doesn’t cost me a fortune. One mistake I made- using oil-free cleansing products but then putting on oily make-up. Oil-free is a must.
Good luck!
PS- as I’m sure other posters will tell you, Accutane is a last resort for extreme acne.
Hmm, that’s weird. I have endometriosis and I have to be on a high dosage of estrogen. (subject for a different thread, but I am having serious problems with the endometriosis and they want to do surgery and I’m freaked.)
Really? That’s odd. Maybe I misunderstood my doc, but I remember that being what she told me. I start up with a new gyno soon, so I’ll ask her. I’ve gotten eighteen different answers about my endo from doctors anyway…one more wrong answer won’t make a difference. And I understand the fear of surgery. I’m headed there myself in a year or two, and I’m dreading it. But it’ll probably be a necessity if I want to have kids (which I do).
auntie em and EJsGirl, Accutane scares the living shit out of me. I’ve heard horror stories about it. Sadly, though, I probably would be willing to give it a try. I’m not sure if they would prescribe it for someone who’s had previous problems with depression, though. And it’s so nice to know that there are others in my age range who have been through the zit thing. I really feel like I should be working the grill at Burger King or something.
I don’t know if this will make you feel better or worse, but my husband is 48 years old and he still gets zits all the time. He tells me he’s gonna be a little old man of 80 with the skin of a 15-year-old.
He doesn’t have the patience to actually go to a dermatologist and try the stuff they have, but I have heard from a friend of mine who also has spent years fighting zits that there are many more alternatives the docs have now that weren’t around when we were teenagers (she’s 41 like me), so if you are committed to getting rid of the things it wouldn’t hurt to see what your choices are. You might be able to get away with just using topical items rather than systemic ones.
35 here - big zit on my chin (dammit). But I only get a few a month now. My dermatologist kept putting me on more salves and potions and special soaps and it just kept getting worse.
Then my hair stylist told me to wash my face with moisturizing shampoo. SHAMPOO?? It really works and doesn’t make my skin oilier. Talked to my Dermatologist about it and she doesn’t see anything wrong with it. Most shampoo is gentle, pH balanced, and moisturizing is a bonus! And it’s much cheaper.
I used to be afraid of moisturizer too, but the trick is to find one that isn’t oil-based. In line with what EJsGirl suggested, try Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin lotion. My skin has been SO MUCH BETTER since I started using it.
Three more things:
Quit using astringent. All that does is make your skin manufacture MORE oil to compensate for the stuff you’re stripping away. Don’t use it at all, ever.
Drink lots of water (and I mean water, not just any liquid). It really does make a huge difference. Eight glasses a day, at least.
Try those oil-absorbing sheets. I love Clean & Clear’s brand, much better than the rice-paper-and-powder variety. Use them throughout the day to take off excess oil without stripping your skin (or ruining your makeup).
I’m 27, and I do still get the occasional zit, but now it’s only when I stop drinking enough water. And I got them chronically until I was 25, when I took up the water habit and the other things I listed. Good luck!
I have had only one or two zits since starting to use a generic anti-bacterial face wash. It’s worked better than any acne lotion, even better than those overnight acne treatments. It’s specifically made for washing your face, so it’s not as harsh as anti-bacterial hand soap.
Go to your gyn and get your hormone levels checked. It’s not outside of the range of possibilities that the balance could be out of whack, especially since you have endo and are on a low-dose BCP.
Why the worry over Accutane? I’ve done a cycle and it only made me break out a little more than usual in the very beginning. Now I don’t get more than one pimple every so often, a miracle considering how it used to be. There’s more than one dosage and length of treatment, so maybe you can discuss that with your dermatologist.
From what I’ve read, toothpaste can actually irritate your skin and Beadalin is right, you probably should skip the astringent. Splash your face with a little water if you’re getting oily. A wonderful face cleanser is Cetaphil, not expensive, very gentle, and good as a very light moisturizer, too.
